Western Synk’maa: Other Locations
Routakorpi - Frostwood
Many of the barbaric warrior clans of the north of Western Synk’maa have inhabited the coniferous forests of Frostwood for thousands of years and through the ages, continuing to do so still.
During the First War, some Loyalists and Shadow Kin-folk tried to infiltrate Western Synk’maa via the cold shores of Frostwood, but a majority of those fools were ended by the fierce northerners. Any surviving escapees met their gruesome death in the jaws of Frostwood’s wolves and in the merciless grip of freezing weather.
Ikikuohu - Ever-Tide
The harsh waters of Ever-Tide stream straight from the heart of Well of Verses and its waters never freeze, no matter how cold the surrounding climate is. The river is considered holy by the locals, and is under heavy surveillance by the Witch Queen’s soldiers. Not a single outlander is allowed to even touch the stream.
Pohjanpitäjän Rauniot - Ruins of the Northern Parish
The town of Northern Parish was supposed to function as the link between the north of Western Synk’maa and the rest of the realm. Soon enough, the criminals all over Synk’maa started to keep the place as their hideaway, causing harm around the Witch Queen’s lands. Only a year or two passed, and the Witch Queen’s warriors struck Northern Parish, which was converted from a functioning community into a cesspool of crooks and culprits. The attacking northerners left none alive, excluding the local folk that was kept alive and prisoned by the invaders. The town was never rebuilt, as the Witch Queen wanted to keep the ruins as the remembrance of untrustworthiness of the people outside the northern Western Synk’maa.
Jäälahti - Shivering Bay
A great bay, usually dead calm and serene, thus consistently frozen solid. During the harshest winters, the ice is so thick, that one can make way across the bay on the ice from shore to shore. During those unforgiving seasons, the fishermen of Gulf’s Cradle have a hard time making a living.
Noidankiro - Hexed
The forest is home to perhaps the oldest and at the same time the most powerful witch covenant in Synk’maa. According to old legends, the founders of the community could be the original students of Noita herself. Even today some black mages of Western Synk’maa are still somewhat distantly related to the witches of the Hexed.
Karhun Hampaat - Beartooth Mountains
A long and high mountain range that divides Southern Synk’maa into northern and southern halves. The Well of Verses drops its waters from the mountains to the north through the river of Ever-Tide all the way to the Shivering Bay.
The mountains are said to have bizarre effects on people's minds and the animals that live in the area. Strangely enough, the mountains do not seem to affect the inhabitants of the northern side. Rumor has it that Itkijätär would not have left Synk’maa at the end of the Age of the Gods, but that she would have made her home inside the caverns of the Beartooth Mountains.
Kadonneiden Kukkulat - Hills of the Lost
A hill area that the Stream of Illusions divides into north and south. All in all, there seems to be a perpetual blizzard in the hills that never subsides. Some suspect that the Witch Queen of Frostwind Citadel has summoned it, but the northern clans say that the storm had been roaring in the hills long before the Queen arrived. Because of the storm, navigating the hills is extremely difficult and only a handful of travelers have survived. The northern clans understand not to go to the area at all.
Merihauta - Saltwater Tomb
During the First War, the Shadow Kin were supposed to land in the Western North in order to enslave its folk and have them as their "allies". The Shadow Kin sent their largest fleet fully manned, but while resting in the bay, Aallotar and her sisters attacked the fleet, completely destroying it. None of the members of that fleet survived.
Harhojen Virta - Stream of Illusions
East of the Beartooth Mountains, a river running through the Hills of the Lost. The few who have made it home from the area have returned deranged, talking about strange figures that move on the surface of the Stream of Illusions, planting nightmarish visions in the unsuspecting traveler’s brains.
Kyyneljoki - River of Tears
A river flowing west from the Beartooth Mountains, from which one can hear harrowing, weeping sounds at night. According to the most common belief, the old spirits of the dead keep crying under the surface, lamenting their terrible fate. Some think that the voices could somehow be related to the goddess Itkijätär, whose tears echo in the flowing river. Whatever the origin, the voices are known to mesmerize passers-by, forcing them to drown themselves in the River of Tears.
Hyhmäsuo - Slushbog
A bog area kept cold all year round by the freezing low waters of the Beartooth Mountains and the stormy winds coming from the Hills of the Lost. Traveling and getting to Slushbog is such an arduous and difficult task to accomplish, that the true face of the area still remains almost a total mystery.
Yksinäinen Järvi - Lonely Lake
A great lake where the rivers flowing into it are called the Lonely Rivers. Like the swamps surrounding the Lonely Lake, the Slushbog, the waters have not been explored or used at all, due to extremely difficult accessibility.
Kaihonkosken Virta - Apatheia Rapids
A river flowing southwest from the Beartooth Mountains, not having such blatant and grave effects on people as the other rivers flowing down from the mountain range. People who live by the river feel that their mood is always low and their physical health utterly powerless. The water in the river always tastes dirty and the meat of the caught fish is always muddy.
Karkulaisten Saari - Isle of Fugitives
At the beginning of the First War, the Loyalists of Gray Burg and Lesser Gray Burg fled to the island to avoid being captured and executed by the Shadow Kin. Although at the end of the war the Loyalists were able to expel the Shadow Kin from the cities, the Loyalists who fled to the island no longer dared, or cared, to return. Over time, the event has largely been forgotten and nothing is known about the possible inhabitants of the island, yet the name of the place has survived the passing of time.
Kuiskivat Puut - Whispering Forest
According to the stories, the restless souls of the hills of the Land of Wraiths would have wandered into this dense, damp forest, settling in its crooked trees. These spirit-cursed trees whisper stories of the First War and the bloody horrors committed during that time. In the deepest forest, the most disturbed of souls have caused the trees to move and even attack stray wanderers.
Henkien Maat - Land of Wraiths
After the First War, Gray Burg and Lesser Gray Burg buried their fallen in the hills of the area. However, the victims of the battles did not get their own graves. Instead, massive mass graves were dug in the area where the bodies were left to rot. Horribly enough, sometimes the diggers didn't even bother to cover the carcass-filled pits with soil.
Rumors tell of the dead coming back to life and attacking Gray Burg shortly after the mass graves were done. Although that event is now only known as a legend, there are still hearsays circulating in the Western Synk’maa that everyone who dies in the Land of Wraiths will rise again as the living dead.
Rajakorpi - Brimwood
A forest that, in addition to the village of Southern Brink, is considered the last border of the people of the Western Synk'maa. Many dangerous and ferocious creatures live in the woods, which are known to attack people without hesitation.
After the Spellblade Mercenaries settled in Southern Brink and set up guard points on the edge of the Brimwood, the attacks of the forest creatures gradually stopped. Nowadays, it seems that both parties are watching over each other, and it is said that there are human-like figures walking in the forest, without being completely human. Despite the vaguely peaceful situation, people who get lost in the Brimwood and further south almost never return alive.
Käymättömät Vuoret - Unknown Mountains
Due to the difficult terrain, with packs of hundreds of hungry wolves, and giant birds of prey patrolling the sky, no expedition has managed to map the mountain area properly. On the other hand, after the attacks and disturbances by the beasts of Brimwood, no one has even tried.
Before the mentioned bloodied events, a traveler claimed to have crossed the mountains alone and descended the river of Nameless on a raft they built themselves, getting a vague picture of the surrounding forests, coast and creeks. Nowadays, no one considers these travel stories to be true anymore.
Petojen Maat - Land of Beasts
The name includes the entire southern half of Western Synk'Maa, starting from the southern edge of Brimwood, with all its forests and lands, all the way to the coast. Based on vague observations made from the coast, nothing else is known about the area, other than where the forests roughly end and that the area is bisected by a river called Nameless.
Nimetön - Nameless
A river named Nameless, being a complete mystery to people. It has been possible to estimate both its upper and lower course with the help of a telescope. Searching the area thoroughly would surely grant a great amount of fame and wealth to any successful adventurer.
Sumusaaret - Misty Isles
Over the years, it has been possible to land safely on these islands only a few times, due to the seemingly endless pea soup fog that surrounds them. Everyone who has navigated the waters of the area says that the fog thickens even more, as if dictated by some unnatural force, whenever the islands are approached.
Once, a group of seafarers reported that they had found small rowing boats, fitting for a few people. Apparently, their design did not resemble any previously known type of boat. After the party of adventurers settled down for the night, the rowboats were no longer found the next morning.
Surmakari - Dreadrock
An extremely dangerous area, full of sharp and rocky shallows, through which no one has yet survived with their ships intact. The sharks and writhing sea snakes swimming in the waters of the area make the end of the few shipwreck survivors.
